BBB Tip: Hiring a tutor for your child

St. Louis, Mo., August 22, 2023 – This school year, Better Business Bureau® (BBB®) has tips for parents and guardians looking for a tutor for their child.

Many kids can benefit from having a tutor to help keep them motivated and learning. A tutor can give students extra support in a subject that’s difficult for them or prepare them for a tough assignment.

Each student’s academic needs are unique; luckily, there’s a wide variety of tutoring options out there to meet their needs. Tutors can specialize in different subjects, offer short- or long-term tutoring and can meet students virtually or in-person.

“BBB.org can help you sort through the tutoring options available to you and your child,” said Michelle L. Corey, BBB St. Louis president and CEO. “You can search any tutoring service’s BBB Business Profile to see if they’re BBB Accredited, reviews, complaints and their rating to get an idea of their track record.”

BBB received about 330 complaints and over 61,000 inquiries about tutoring services in 2022. Common complaints include paying for sessions that tutors didn’t attend, dissatisfaction with the quality of lessons and difficulty obtaining a refund.

A couple in Lake Saint Louis, MO hired a tutoring service for their child during the ‘22-‘23 school year, but requested to cancel when their original tutor left the company soon after lessons began and the newly assigned tutor didn’t have the specific expertise their child needed. In response, the service claimed it would credit them free lessons, but then charged them for the lessons, refused to refund the charges and did not respond to the couple’s attempts to contact them.

BBB recommends consumers research information about a tutor’s or service’s reputation, like reviews, complaints and references, in advance of hiring them.

BBB’s tips for hiring a tutor:

• Know your child’s needs. Set some parameters before you begin your search. You’ll want to look for tutors or tutoring services that are knowledgeable in the subject your student needs support in and have experience working with children your student’s age. Some tutors are better at homework help, some focus on long-term learning and some excel at quick test preparation – ask tutors how they typically work and see if that aligns with what your child needs.
• Ask around. Family, friends or other families at your child’s school may have had a good experience with a tutor they can recommend. You can also ask school employees or your child’s favorite teacher for a recommendation.
• Do your research. Search for tutors near you at BBB.org, and check out the company’s BBB Business Profile before you sign a contract or pay any money. Ask the tutor about their qualifications and job experience. Request references and call them to ask about their experience with the tutor.
• Discuss the details. Ask the tutor about their availability, the cost and frequency of tutoring sessions, and the overall length of time you’ll need the tutor.
• Include your child in the hiring process. Your child is more likely to learn effectively with a tutor they trust and like. Make sure your child is comfortable with the tutor you hire, and check in frequently after lessons begin to make sure their needs are being met.